Truth became early casualty in Ferguson

The truth once set us free. Today it is distorted, eluded, obfuscated and denied. In many ways the truth became the second victim in Ferguson, Mo.

Michael Brown's death is indeed tragic. In fact, the shooting death of any unarmed citizen should raise questions. The issue now at hand is to determine whether Michael Brown's death was justified?

We have yet to establish with any certitude what occurred between Brown and Officer Darren Wilson. In fact, it is difficult enough to decipher what we all just watched and heard via the national media concerning this tragedy in Ferguson. Here are my initial thoughts:

Narratives matter. The Ferguson police lost the battle of the narrative when they failed to tell what they knew, when they knew it. In cases of race and youth, authentic and timely transparency helps to build trust and ease tensions.

Since city officials were slow to provide facts, the press, the family, disenfranchised elements in the community and activists established their own versions of the truth. The battle of the narrative rages on and will for some time.

Media manipulates. Much of the national media arrived in Ferguson confident in their conclusions; thus, they set forth to prove themselves correct. Repeated references to Kent State, Fallujah and Rodney King served to paint a partisan facade of reality. An ideologically driven national media and the truth are polarizing opposites.

Agitators are drawn to the dark. The worst of the worst came to Ferguson from Chicago; they came to enrage, loot and incite. Usually working from the periphery and wearing masks, these wannabe "community organizers" are in reality nothing more than street punks and gang members. It is interesting that these anarchists arrived as if sponsored by a bigger movement. Maybe Chicago was just too quiet for them.

People suffer when the police fail to act. Police serve and protect, not themselves, but the public. Episodically, and once being too often, the Ferguson police refused to protect businesses for fear of appearing too aggressive. How repugnant.

The vacillating approach to police presence left good people in a lurch. Business owners, out of necessity, armed themselves to protect their property when the police failed to do so. Even-handed law enforcement and the protection of all citizens, regardless of consequence or media storyline, is an obligation of police work. I, for one, want a strong police presence and I want them to have the equipment required to protect themselves against injury and harm.

First truth, then justice. When truth is tormented, justice is delayed and made more difficult to dispense. Sadly, the predisposition of our federal Department of Justice is that the local police and judicial system in Ferguson are racist and biased, a notion that might be racist and biased in itself. Let the system work as intended, provide some oversight, and be prepared to intercede if asked or if required. Immediately undercutting local authority by attempting to resolve local issues at the federal level is poor policy.

Truth is immutable. It is also inconvenient and sometimes it hurts, but truth should always be sought. We do not yet know all the facts in the Michael Brown shooting because the truth has been swathed in conjecture, emotion, hatred and subterfuge. Once the calculating media, activists-agitators, racial windbags and charlatans depart Ferguson, the truth might emerge.

I hope so. It is too late save Michael Brown, but the truth can save Officer Wilson. Whatever the outcome, I hope it is based on the truth, the whole truth and nothing but.

Gene Kamena writes from Prattville. The ideas and opinions in his commentary are his alone and do not represent or reflect the views of personal or professional associations and affiliations. Send email to Prattvilleink@gmail.com.